Novel polymer nanocomposite based on polypyrrole and ZrO2 reinforced BN nanosheets: Prospective utilization as implant coatings for TiNbZr bio-implant alloy

Abstract

Providing Ti-alloy with tunable corrosion resistance and biocompatible characteristics can yield a preferred implant surface to aid an optimistic bone healing. An electrochemically synthesized nanocomposite coating based on polypyrrole (PPy) and ZrO2 decorated boron nitride (ZrO2-BN) nanosheets was explored as polymeric bioactive coatings for TiNbZr alloy in orthopedic applications. In vitro corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of PPy/ZrO2-BN nanocomposite coatings were systematically inspected by correlating them with the structural and surface microstructural changes observed in the prepared coatings. The positive role of ZrO2 addition on BN nanosheets was evaluated using surface and structural analyses in terms of its improvement on homogeneous dispersion and interfacial interaction with the host PPy matrix. Bio-corrosion test results in Hank's solution confirmed that PPy coatings with the inclusion of 15 mg/L of ZrO2-BN provided the best surface protective performance against corrosion among the investigated specimens. In vitro biocompatibility assay was performed on MG63 osteosarcoma cell lines and the obtained results confirmed the beneficial role of ZrO2-BN nanosheets in improving the bioactivity of PPy coatings on the Ti surface. The obtained results showed that the beneficial role of ZrO2-BN nanosheets in improving the surface wettability, in vitro biocompatibility and corrosion protection performance of PPy coatings on Ti surface suggests a possible candidate for biomedical applications.